It's tuesday again?

I've been very busy writing and can't believe how fast time goes by. It seems every time I turn around it is Tuesday and blog day. I am also surprised that each meeting the blog calendar is filled and when it actually comes to the appointed day few who sign up actually blog. I choose each Tuesday because I have a memory like a steel sieve. I retain only that which I do repeatedly. Thus Tuesday is blog day. Now if you can't remember any better than I can maybe you should either put it in your day planner or pick Thursday or the second Wednesday of every month. It's not a big deal. But if you say you are going to do it then dang it do it. Blogging is writing, no chosen research, no characters, no plot, just writing. If you
can't do that you aren't a writer. Now that is not to say, because I do blog that I am the best writer only that I do what I say I will. If this group is going to grow and be of service to its members the members who make commitment must honor that commitment.

Momentum

My current dilema is how to keep my forward momentum now that I've submitted my first book. I had enough work getting the manuscript ready for submission, so my time was filled. Now, there are several books wanting my attention. How do I choose?

I also have two books started with two differnt critique groups. So my best bet would be to divide my time between the two (if possible) and get the important stuff done. What's the important stuff, you might ask?

It has been brought to my attention that I need to develop my stories in a more organized fashion using inciting incidents, turning points, climaxes and resolutions. What are those, I asked? I've heard of them but never learned how to use them. Even my eighteen-year-old son laughed at me on the drive to Philadelphia Friday. "Mom, we learned about all that in third grade!" (My only excuse is I don't remember much from grammar school except the boys I had crushes on.)

So, with the start of the NaNo looming, I'm going to really work on my plotting strategies and see how quick a learner I can be.

Meeting Readers

I had the privilege of attending a ‘Romance Tea’ at the Ogden Library. Organized by The Wild Rose Press, the event brought authors and readers together.
Seven writers gained the opportunity to introduce their work to guests. Not only did the audience learn how we crafted, but we were able to ask questions also. We took a quick poll to find out what types of romance they read as well as their thoughts on e-publishing.
While most complained about small print in paperbacks, most did not own electronic readers. I believe they received valuable insight as to why the industry is going in that direction.
Overall, it was a huge success! Special thanks to Rhonda Penders for organizing the event. Sponsors stepped forward big time with flowers, beverages, and desserts.

What's in a domain?

Recently, a friend of mine has talked me into revamping my personal blog... actually moving to wordpress. Must say the difference is huge. However, the huge question is do I get a domain or not.
From LCRW meeting early this year, I learned the longer the web domain is up and live the better your stats are. But the question is do I go with my personal name, a platform name, or product type?

I'm still waiting to be published, so how important is setting up the domain website now? Any suggestions?

Lately, I've been reading writeitforward blog, and at times warrior writer blog (caution, Kristen Lamb's blog has good stuff but her posts are long winded.)  Both  have been talking about platform, product and promotion.

Can't wait for next months meeting with a local Social Media Guru, hopefully by then I'll have and idea where to go form here. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm looking for guidence. Happy typing.

Book Clubs

I want to post a little something on book clubs. My neighborhood recently started one, and I signed up in a jiffy. I read all the time. Why not have a lively discussion about books? I can pick other people's brains. See if they feel similar about the story. Maybe learn a new point of view I hadn't thought of before.

Another great thing...since every member gets to choose a book, I would be reading something I wouldn't normally pick up.

I quickly discovered that book clubs have their pros and cons. Sometimes the book club is more about socializing than about literature. And sometimes the book that is chosen is not my taste at all, and I struggle to chew and swallow it. But I am bonding with my neighbors, who seem to be very nice, intelligent women. And I am broadening my reading horizons, which will serve to make me a stronger creative writing teacher and a better writer.

I've wanted to join a book club for years now, and I'm thrilled to be a part of one now. We are in the infant stages, and I feel we don't have discussions on literature down to a science yet, but we are learning. So far the experience has been worth it.

How do you promote Goodness?

I've been writing toward publication for some time now and have learned that sex and violence and mayhem all sell very well. I have several books published but would like to earn more than the price of a Happy Meal for my efforts. My books aren't about sex, violence, or mayhem of any kind. I promote helping others, the value of a work ethic, looking at the best of a person and tolerating others views. Trust me this does not sell well. And I fear that is what is wrong with the entire country. Violence is elevated to near worship. Why must even the simplest of things be about besting someone else? I fail to understand how someone's pain can better my life. And why does everything have to be a trial? If something bad happens and we all know it does, how about just trusting it will all work out in the end. Crying over spilt milk does not put it back in the bottle. Just go on from where you are and stop thinking that everything bad happens to you. Everyone has bad days and if we expect to have good times, we will. I am a firm believer in what you think about happens. Case in point? If you have a dog and think he will pee on the carpet, guess what he will. If you believe he will ask to go out he'll do that as well. Our minds are powerful things. You may not be able to control everything around you, but you can and should control the way you react to what is around you. I learned long ago that while competition may be good in some situations, that is not always the case. If it doesn't matter who gets the credit, the job is completed in a better fashion that if everyone is pulling against each other. So I ask again how do you promote goodness? How do I make someone want to read about evil being thwarted and goodness promoted? Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Serenity

How to find serenity when your world crashes? Beats me. Oh not a catastrophic crash, just the death of my laptop.

I'm in the middle of reading a manuscript for a publisher. Luckily I saved everything to a flash drive. My hard drive is also backed up to an external drive.

Yet, I'm lost at sea because I don't have access to any of it without a working computer. The ideal option would be to go buy a new computer. Doubt my husband would agree since we're paying a college tuition now and our credit cards have been seeing too much action.

So I must figure out what to do with this idle time. I'll use this iTouch as much as possible, but will also use this time to think quietly and calmly about my priorities. Haven't done that in a while. It might be just the next impetus in my evolving personality.

What Really Matters

We all have things that are important to us, but most would say that people are more important than things. So it would follow that we place more importance on those we love, our family and friends, but if we are to improve our world should we not also place importance on the feelings of those who share the planet with us?
I am appalled at the stupid statements people who are in the public eye seem to make on a daily basis. Each day we are bombarded with so called slips of the tongue. To condemn someone/ anyone for their religious choice or their sexual preference, or whatever is different from one perspective is not only fool hardy but down right wrong.
Celebrities and those in the political arena, should always keep in mind, that their grandmother is watching. Never say or write what you would not want the dear lady to hear. Is there no shame? Let's call a moratorium on slander, curses and just plain hurtful remarks. They serve no purpose except to garner most likely unwanted attention. And while we are at it how about abolishing stupid behavior? No one is exempt from stupid, but the proliferation of the folks who continually draw from the same batch of stupid over and over, is not only amazing, but danged dumb. To start let's apologise to those we have maligned or unintentionally hurt and resolve to cling to what really matters. We are here to serve one another and no other reason is valid.

Balance

This past week has shown me I need to have balance in my life to be a good writer. I heard back from the editor assigned my three chapter submission. She asked for the complete manuscript to make a final decision.

I panicked. The manuscript isn't finished. Scrambling, I hurried to edit and transcribe everything I have written. Then I talked with a couple of published author friends. Their kind words helped slow me down and think things through.

My family has been warned finishing this book is a priority for me. However, I'm learning I can still work in time for them as well as make time to write. As of last night, I've finished the transcription. I'm at the pivotal point in the suspense and need to see it through and write the ending.

My panic is subsiding, but it hasn't gone away. Should it? No, but now I know that I will get it done, just at the predestined time, not my time.

New Horizons

Here we are almost a month out from the conference and I'm lovin' it. I finished editing a short piece and sent on to the Publisher...now I'm just killing time, doing the patience dance. Which consists of working on my WIP, plot( I know... weird huh.) and getting in touch with my writing side.
A first happened to me a few days ago I was having coffee with a few friends, when two of my characters demanded face time. A story I put away months ago because I worked myself into a corner and couldn't see a window to crawl out. And there they were with a proverbial window.  Gotta love the way the subconscious works on ideas silently in the background. 
So now I'm writing more and working more than ever. Thanks to the conference and the extra boost of writing energy. 
Here I am with a schedule, some sparse outlines and creativity dripping from my fingertips. Write On, Write ON!

Critiquing using Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Office Word includes the option to edit and make suggestions to documents using a special editing too. It allows comments, strikethroughs and additions. If you are critiquing someone else’s work, I beg of you NOT TO USE IT.

On the surface, it is a phenomenal tool. However, it only allows the recipient an accept/reject option. Because the recipient cannot choose what portions s/he wants to keep or reject, it creates five times the work for the person receiving the critique than the simple options of normal a Word document.

I make the presumption that if you use this special feature you are familiar enough with Word to place a few important buttons on your formatting tool bar. If you do not have them there, you need to add: Highlight, Strikethrough, and Font Color. Right click on the tool bar, select customize, then commands, and finally format. Scroll down the list until you find the function that is missing, left click and hold, then drag the icon to the inside of the tool bar. It’s that simple. Now is also a good time to remove any icons you don’t use. Merely drag the icon from the toolbar to the open table. Don’t like the icon order, move them while the customize box is open. When you are done, close the box.

Now, when you want to strike out text, highlight it, and press the strikethrough button. Want to suggest text or make a comment, place the cursor in the appropriate point, select a new font color and type away. If you want to emphasize something, you can bold, italicize, underline, or even change fonts. None of this is locked so it cannot be changed by the recipient.

Fancy is nice, but when it creates more work, it’s just counter productive.

Changes

As we near the end of this president's term, many changes have been suggested. Case in point critiquing, there is talk of having a early critique session prior to the meeting. This may work well for some, but I believe it should be put to the membership for a vote. To make sweeping changes without input of the membership is a great way to alienate people. Apparently this change will be tested this next meeting. Someone implied it would be easier to do some of the preliminary critiquing online. This may be so, but to create so much structure and rules in my opinion defeats the openness of the process. I scramble to write each day and to blog every Tuesday. I do not have time to look over a body of work of another writer as part of my work day. I hold a critique session every Wednesday and anyone is welcome. Just e-mail me you are interested.
But I digress. In view of the success of our conference, with so many stepping up to the plate I believe we need fewer rules and regs. We are here to help one another not to throw obstacles on the path of the writer's journey. This is of course just my opinion and as such should be taken only as a single view. I, for one, welcome more discussion on the subject before it is cast in stone.

Going With The Flow

I've begun to feel more comfortable with the changes in my life. I can take frequent trips out-of-town with my son and still be productive and have unexpected fun.

Did a reading for a publisher while I was gone (have computer, will travel). I also had an opportunity to see a small production musical with short notice and had a great time.

Did I spazz out because I wasn't working on my book? No. Why? I knew that my time would be less structured away and allowed myself the break. I knew when I returned home to my (somewhat) normal routine, I'd have plenty of time to work on it.

My new M.O.? Take a deep breath and step away to look @ my options. If there's no actual deadline, I can get it done @ the pace I set. I'll continue to work steadily every day. When I get a request for my work, I'll be almost ready if not finished.

Why make myself sick with what if's? Not gonna happen! I know I'll be successful.